Before the Mill Pond wall was constructed the area presently known as the Mill Pond was a tidal creek similar to the 'rythes' on Hayling island. When the Mill Pond was constructed in the eighteenth century, its tidal nature would have been largely retained. Wooden gates next to the Quay Mill opened at high tide to let the Pond fill, and let vessels into the pond which loaded or emptied cargoes from the malthouse.

Emsworth Quay Mill - the bridge spans the oldlock, the original entrance to the Mill Pond.

The water level in the pond would have fallen quite rapidly when the mill was working as the impounded water was used to drive the turbine under the mill building.

In 1925 the Mill Pond was purchased by Warblington District Council as it was no longer needed to supply the motive power for the mill. At this time the earth bank that impounded the pond was improved, stone facings were constructed and it was surfaced to form a promenade. The Mill Pond was used as a swimming pool and there was a bathing hut on the Promenade near to the mill building, with a short bridge ending in a ladder used by bathers to enter the water. Unfortunately it was later discovered that the water in the Mill Pond was brackish due to the flow of fresh water from the West Brook and it was not suitable for bathing. The Mill Pond is now administered as an amenity, the Mill Pond wall as a promenade for walkers and the water level maintained in the pond at low tide to avoid the exposure of unsightly mud banks (bearing in mind the extensive mudflats in the harbour outside the Mill Pond at low tide, smell is a minor consideration). The Borough Council endeavours to maintain water levels in the Mill Pond at such a level so as to cover the mud flats around its edge.

The Mill Pond - Ordnance Survey map 1870
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